MARSHALL, Minn. – The University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball team showed remarkable resilience but couldn't complete the comeback, falling 87–79 to Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday afternoon inside the R/A Facility. The Mustangs built a commanding early lead that proved insurmountable despite a spirited second-half rally from the Cougars, who erased a 20-point deficit and pulled within four points late in the game before SMSU closed it out.

With the loss, USF moved to 8–5 overall and 5–3 in NSIC play, while SMSU improved to 7–6 (5–3 NSIC). Despite the setback, the Cougars showed the kind of heart and determination that will serve them well down the stretch, led by a breakout performance from Krista Langager in one of the best games of her young career.

Game Summary

USF shot an efficient 51.5 percent from the field, finishing 34-for-66 overall and an impressive 6-for-10 from three-point range. The difference came in the details: the Cougars struggled to capitalize at the free-throw line, converting just 5-of-10, while SMSU made 12 free throws. More critically, the Mustangs held a decisive edge on the glass, outrebounding USF 41–30 and turning 16 offensive rebounds into 18 second-chance points that kept the Cougars at arm's length.

Southwest Minnesota State featured a balanced offensive attack with three players reaching the 20-point mark. Natalie Nielsen led the charge with 26 points and 10 rebounds, Audrey Swanson added 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Nicole Maenke contributed 21 points including three made threes.

For USF, Langager was nothing short of spectacular, delivering a career-high 30 points and 14 rebounds on an outstanding 14-for-17 shooting performance. Alexis Rose provided excellent support with 19 points and six assists, while Ayla Brown orchestrated the offense beautifully with 13 points and nine assists, playing all but 30 seconds of the game.

How It Happened

First Quarter
Southwest Minnesota State established its rhythm early, taking the opening quarter 24–17. USF shot a respectable 7-for-15 from the field but struggled to generate perimeter looks, attempting just one three-pointer. SMSU connected on three threes and went a perfect 3-for-3 at the line to build its early cushion. Langager carried the Cougars offensively with nine points and six rebounds, keeping USF within striking distance.

Second Quarter
The Mustangs extended their advantage in the second period, outscoring USF 25–16 to take a commanding 49–33 lead into halftime. SMSU was clinical in their execution, shooting 11-for-16 from the field and 3-for-5 from three while dominating the paint with a 16–8 scoring edge. Langager continued her stellar play, going 3-for-3 in the quarter, but SMSU pushed its lead to as many as 20 points with 2:22 remaining before the break. The Cougars had a mountain to climb.

Third Quarter
USF began to find its footing after halftime, winning the third quarter 23–18 and breathing life back into the contest. Anna Vaaler sparked the surge with seven points, and the Cougars capitalized on four Mustang turnovers, converting them into seven points. USF shot 10-for-21 from the field and knocked down 3-of-4 threes, while the defense held SMSU to 40 percent shooting and finally started to slow down the Mustangs' attack. The Cougars entered the fourth quarter trailing 67–56, still very much in the fight.

Fourth Quarter
The Cougars made it a game in the final period, clawing all the way back to within four points and giving themselves a chance. Brown orchestrated the comeback effort brilliantly with four assists in the quarter, while Langager added 10 more points to reach her career-high 30-point mark. The comeback attempt stalled after a critical and-one play by SMSU shifted momentum back to the home team, and the Mustangs were able to seal the victory 87–79.

Coach's Corner

"I was very proud of the second half, but not proud of the first half. We just weren't very relaxed and felt like we were still on Christmas break in the first half. Southwest is a great team and a very hard team to beat at home, but giving up 16 offensive rebounds and falling behind the way we did in the first half is not a good recipe for going on the road. I'm very proud of how we fought back to give ourselves a chance to win, but hopefully this is a learning point for our young players that every play in a basketball game matters."
- Head Coach Travis Traphagen

Key Coo

• Krista Langager: Career-high 30 points and 14 rebounds (six offensive) on 14-for-17 shooting, with two steals and a block
• Alexis Rose: 19 points on 7-for-13 shooting, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3-for-3 from three
• Ayla Brown: 13 points, 9 assists, and 3 rebounds in 39:29 of action

Key Team Stats

• Rebounding: SMSU won the rebounding battle 41–30, collecting 16 offensive boards that led to 18 second-chance points and extended possessions.
• Paint Play: Both teams dominated inside, with USF scoring 46 points in the paint and SMSU edging them 48–46 in a physical battle.
• Resilience: The Cougars erased a 20-point second-quarter deficit and pulled within four late in the fourth quarter, showcasing their character and refusal to quit.
• Perimeter & Line: SMSU hit nine threes to USF's six and made 12 free throws compared to five for the Cougars—small margins that made a big difference.

Up Next

The Cougars return home for a nonconference matchup against the Northern State Wolves on Monday, January 5, inside the Stewart Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

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